New Lenox couple goes to bat for these critters

That's just one of the questions bat naturalist Daniel Peterson of New Lenox hears. And, of course, the answer is, "No."

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"Well, first of all, bats are nocturnal and we're not," Daniel said, speaking for him and his wife Sharon Peterson, an elementary school teacher who is trained in bat conservation. "Also, we sleep in beds and they sleep hanging by their toes."

The Petersons, owners of Incredible Bats, will bring some of their live 14 Egyptian fruit bats and three African straw-colored bats, as well as a skunk and a tarantula to the Joliet Public Library's Halloween Spooktacular on Oct. 30.

Since 1996 the Petersons, both trained by Bat Conservation International, have been promoting bat education through multi-media programs and presentations, according to the Incredible Bat website.

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On Oct. 30, because Incredible Bats won't be offering a formal program, just a meet and greet, Daniel said. Still, it's a great opportunity for people to ask questions, take photos with the bats and hold a skunk and a Chilean rose-haired tarantula named Trixie.

"We have two skunks: Baxter and Bella," Daniel said. "Baxter is 3 years old and Bella is 2 years old. They have their own Facebook page."

The skunks and tarantula give attendees other opportunities to "get close to nature," Daniel said, especially since bats don't like to be handled, even by the Petersons.

"When I go home, they want to go right in their flight cage, away from me," Daniel said. "Skunks are like cats or dogs," Daniel said. "They want to sit in my lap and be sweet as pie."

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Daniel is quick to point out that it's illegal in Illinois to keep bats and skunks as pets. The Petersons are insured as well as licensed by the USDA as Class C Exhibitors, he said, the same reason why they are able to own skunks.

Their bats were born in captivity and have not been exposed to rabies or other diseases such as rabies, also according to the Incredible Bat website.

"We don't want people thinking a bat is a pet," Daniel said. "We don't want people thinking if they come across a bat in the wild, they can pick it up. You call animal control."

Bats are not blind (although some see better than others, Daniel said) and, locally, they control pest population, important for a healthy ecosystem, he said. The bats prefer traveling in clusters of three or four and feel more secure in a covered cage.

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Kids just plain dig the tarantula.

"The adults are too afraid to hold her," Daniel said, "but it is a neat experience to have a tarantula walking up your arm."

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IF YOU GO

WHAT: Halloween Spooktacular

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Oct. 30

WHERE: Joliet Public Library, 3395 Black Road, Joliet

INFORMATION: Call the Joliet Public Library at 815-740-2660, Incredible Bats at 815-485-2259, or visit jolietlibrary.org or www.incrediblebats.com.